Reservoirs supplying water to most Catalans double reserves one year after drought emergency

Reservoirs in the Ter-Llobregat rivers system, which supply water to six out of the eight million Catalan residents, have doubled reserves exactly one year after the drought emergency was put in place on February 1, 2024.

Levels stand at almost 34%, that is, one third of the total capacity (612 hm3). The threshold that triggers the drought emergency status is around 16%, a level that was reached twelve months ago in this area.

The situation lasted until May, 7, when the government decided to loosen the restrictions imposed, after a fairly rainy spring that boosted reserves to 37% in late June.

After a hot and dry summer, more showers during the fall kept levels above 30%, a figure that is still standing, although with a slightly downward trend.

The drought emergency status implied a daily cap of 200 liters per person. Also, water for agricultural uses was cut by 80%, by 50% for stockbreeding, and by 25% for industry and leisure.

While this scenario is not expected to be introduced again any time soon, the drought continues and most municipalities supplied by the reservoirs controlled by the Catalan government –that is, two thirds of the country and the overwhelming majority of residents, all areas except those fed by the Ebre river and its tributaries– have measures in place.

Thus, 62% of such towns and cities are in alert status, which already implies spending a daily cap of 250 liters per person. Around 17% more are in exceptionality, a step closer to tight restrictions, and 6% are still in emergency.

Empordà, Riudecanyes and Siurana bear the brunt of drought

Indeed, a few dozens of towns in the northeastern Alt Empordà county are the ones now bearing the brunt of the drought. The reservoir supplying water to them, Darnius Boadella, stands at 17%, just five more points than one year ago.

The other critical areas are those near Tarragona connected to the Riudecanyes and Siurana reservoirs, where rain has also been especially scarce in the past few years.

Both were almost empty in February 2024, at 3% of their total capacity, while Siurana is now at 9% and Riudecanyes, at 23%.

Iconic Sau reservoir

Meanwhile, the most iconic reservoir in Catalonia, Sau, was almost empty, at 4.7%, one year ago, and it peaked to 45% in summer, before dropping again to the current 7.3%. However, Sau is connected to the nearby Susqueda reservoir and regularly authorities decide to move water from one to the other. Thus, Susqueda neared 20% of reserves in February 2023 and it is now at 40%, which means that the total amount of water stored in these two sources is far higher now than a year ago.

Sau is a very well-known especially because it was built in mid-20th century after sinking a full town –the less water the reservoir has, the more relics of the old Sant Romà de Sau village can be seen. In the past decades, its sunken 11th century Romanesque church has become a sort of thermometer for the whole country on the water reserve levels. When Sau gets emptier, the religious building partly, or fully, reemerges over and over.